Automobile.



H. A. MOYER.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION TILED DEG. 29,1908.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

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H. A. MOYER. AUTOMOBILE.

APPLIGATIOH nun) no. 29, 1908. I 1,036,885. Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

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HARVEY IA. noun, or smcosn, NEw -Yonx;

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i T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY A. Moran, a citizen of the United States,residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in- Automobiles, of

. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the body-supporting frames and spring gears ofautomobiles, and has for one. of its objects to improve the constructionof the frame andzthc I arran ement and construction of the springs mg avery and teir connections with the frame so as to reduce the weight andcostof manufactureof the same, while at the sametime improving theappearance thereof and producrigid frameand strong and easy -r1dingspring .gear.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets: Figure 11s aplan view of an automobile frame and spring gear embodying-theinvention. Fig, 2 is a side elevat-ion thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal'section'through one of the frame side bars. Fig. 4 is a rear endelevation, on an enlarged scale, ofthe frame without the springs. Fig. 5is J. transverse section, on an enlarged scale, of the frame and rearsprings in line 55, Fig. 2. Fig; 6 is a fragmentary scetional plan ofthe rear portion of the frame. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of theequal: izer for the rear springs. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the blankfrom which the rear cross bar of the frame is made. Fig. 9 shows amodified construction of the rear springs.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The frame is made of sheet metal bent into shape and consists of twolongitudinal side bars A A and a cross bar B connecting the rearportions of the side bars. The side bars are U-shaped in-cross-sectionand arranged with the flanges projecting horizontally inward. The crossbar isalso U- shaped in crosssection and is made from a substantiallyI-shaped blank, shown in Fig. 8, which, when bent into sha e, providesend braces b that extend forwar ly parallel with the flanges of the sidebars A to which they are secured. The cross bar is referably made of adepth adapting its en 5 to fit in between the flanges of the side barsas hown, but, if desired, it could be made deep L fknges of-the sidebars. Leaf springs C, sepurcd in the rear ends of t side bars,

ough forits ends to straddle or receive the for, and are secured inplace by bolts 0 .65 of the ars and clamp the bars and springs which assthrough the-springs and flanges firmly together.. The end extensions ofthe Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 27, 1912. ApplicationMed December a, 1908. Serial No. 463.712. 1

project out .rearwardly through holes '0 cross bar increase its bearingalong-the side bars and also enable the securing bolts-to be properlyspaced apart. A simple, but

very strong and rigidjcgnncction isthus provided which prevents anytwisting. of the frame of springs; The th ck clumsy,,ends

of the sprin s are'hiddenfror'n view-.injihe side bars an this.arrangement obviatesfthe reinforcements at the corners of thejfraine andthe separate outside brackets hereto fore used for the attachment of thes prings'. V

and'saves the weightof these .paitsas 'well as their cost: it permitsthe fpartsto be as.

sembled or a broken part to be replaced with ease and despatch, and itgreatly improves the appearance of the frame and springs as comparedwith springs connected b outside brackets and clips. The inner en s ofthe lower leaves of the springs C are also preferably extendedinwardly'and attached to the upper flanges of the side bars by'bolls cto still further add to the rigidity of the connection and prercntthesprings from twisting laterally in the frame.

The front ends of the side bars A A, in I duced in depth andcurveddownwardly, and end forgings D are riveted between the ends of theflanges of the bars for the attach-- ment of the front springs. V

F F represent half elliptic rear springs which are secured at theirmiddle. ortions to bearings f for the rear axle by t e-usual pillowblocks and clips f, or in any other suitable way. The frontends of thesehalf springs are pivoted by bolts between the.

spring extensions of the frame side bars.

the construction shown in Figs. 1-3. are re rear ends of thequarter-elliptic springsor I necessity for separate spaceblocks'orotlier rise and- The 5 rings F and C thus arranged and con necte form athree-quarter elliptic spring at each side of the rear end of thevehicle.

The half springs F are preferably arranged beside or in different planesfrom the quarter springs1 C, which enables the frame to be possible ifone part of the spring was arranged over the other, thusgreatly-improving the spring motion of the body. The inner ends of thepivots h of the shackles H at opposite sides of the vehicle are rlgidlyconnected by an equalizing tube or rod I so that when the spring'at oneside of the vehicle is strained or flattened under the load thereon andthe shackle atthis side of the vehic e is rocked by the straighteningout of the lower half spring. F, the shackle at the opposite side of thevehicle will be rocked to the same extent and will cause a correspondingstraightening or flattening of the spring .at such opposite side of thevehicle. Consequently the springs at opposite sides ofthe vehicle willbe strained to the same extent and cause an equal movement of both sidesof the vehiclevbody irrespective of whether the load is borne equally bythe two springs, and the body therefore will not tilt or sway sidewiseif one side of the vehicle is loaded heavier than the other.

If a less expensive rear spring construction than that described isdesired, lower half springs F can be located directly under side bars ofthe frame and pivoted at theirrear ends to ends of quarter ellipticsprings C, as shown in Fig. 9. In this construction the front ends ofthe half springs termin'atc below the side bars and are attached tosuitable shackles F pivoted to the side bars.

K represents a tube or rod connecting the side bars of the frame. andpassing through the spring brackets G, the projecting ends thereofaffording supports for the brake mechanism (not shown).

'L represents half elliptic front springs which are secured at theirmiddle portions by the usual pillow blocks and clips Z, or otherwise, tothe axle or beam M to the. oppositeends of which the front wheels (notshown) are swivelcd in the usual or any suitable way. An I-beam M,provided with widened parts to receive the spring clips,

is shown, but a beam of any other form.

could be used. In the construction shown in Figs. 1-3, the front ends ofthe springs L are pivoted by bolts to the forgings D at the front endsof. the side bars A A. and their rear ends are connected to the sidebars by ordinary shackles N, the springs being located directly beneaththe frame 1 a greater distance than wouldside bars. This is thepreferred construction for general use, but the described constructionof the spring support for the rear end of the frame is notdependent-upon the particular character ofthe spring su port for thefront end of the frame and di erent constructions can be employed.

I claim as my invention:

1. An automobile frame comprising opposite side bars of .U-shapecross-section arranged with the flanges extending inwardly, and across-bar of U-shape cross-section with flange extensions at its endswhich extend parallel with and are secured to the flanges of thesidebars, and springs which are secured between the side bar flanges andsaid flange extensions of the cross-bar and form spring extensionsfor.'said side bars, substantially as set forth. I

2. An automobile frame comprising opposite side bars of U-shapecross-section arranged with the flanges extending inwardly. and a crossbar having flanges which extend parallel with and are secured at theirends to the flanges of said side bars, and springs, which are securedbetween the side bar flanges and said flanges of the cross bar and formspring extensions for saidside bars, substantially as set forth.

3. An automobile frame comprising side bars and a separate cross bar,the ends of said sideand cross bars having overlapping portions whichare seated one within the other, spring extensions for said side barsseated within the connected ends of said side and cross bars, andsecuring-means which extend through said connected ends of the side andcross bars and said spring extensions and rigidly clamp these partstogether, substantially as set forth.

4. An automobile ,frame comprising hollow side bars having oppositewalls which are spaced apart, a separate cross bar connecting said sidebars and having flanges which are secured at their ends to said oppositewalls of the side bars, springs which are secured at their inner endsbetween the opposite walls of said side bars and theflanges of saidcross bar and form spacing blocks between said opposite walls andflanges and whose outer ends form springcember, 1908.

HARVEY A. MOYER.

Witnessesz. 4

IkG. LAI'I'A,

CHESTER W. Ram.

